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RUSSIAN editorial

AFP

Sweden seems to be stronger without superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic after reaching the quarter-finals after 24 years. Saturday, the Swedish national team faces England by a pbad in the semifinals, an instance that never happened.

The New Sweden
The International Retreat of "Ibra & # 39; highlighted all the collective virtues of Sweden. "We are really a team, we are one together," said Janne Andersson, coach of the team "Blagult" (Yellow and Blue), standing out from the Zlatan era. "The team is fighting for the team, that's what matters to those who are on the field and for us on the bench, the coaching staff and the substitutes," he said. he declared.

According to Karl Johan, Swedish goalkeeper, "Zlatan, as a person and as a player is very individualistic, the whole game revolves around him". In addition, Johan noted that with his absence the team can "play more like a team."

THE FACTS
Already without Zlatan, Sweden qualified for Russia 2018 after defeating in their group in France (2-1) and Italy (1-0, 0-0) in the playoffs. In five World Cup matches he was playing, the former leader of Paris SG has never scored a goal, not even against Trinidad and Tobago (0-0) in 2006.

In 2014, the road to Brazil was the He cut another figure, Cristiano Ronaldo, author of a hat-trick in Stockholm in the return duel, in which "Ibra" scored only a double.

However, Ibra & # 39; shone in the Eurocopa, where he scored two goals in each edition (2004, 2008 and 2012). Among them, an annotation that will remain for the memory and the history of football books: a taquito style back beating against Italy, in 2004.

Despite this, the shadow of the giant of 1.95m continues to wander around the team 'Blagult'. His international farewell was at EURO 2016, with a defeat against Belgium in Nice (1-0), where Belgian fans sang "Adiós Ibrahimovic!" With the theme of Go West by Pet Shop Boys as a background melody. Today, Zlatan's heirs are able to overcome it forever.

PHRASES

We are really a team, we are a whole. " Janne Andersson, Swedish coach

We play now more in team", Karl Johan Swedish goalkeeper.